There’s actually a little note in my calendar where I left off last time .. are you ready, April 11th.  Let’s just say I’ve been preoccupied.  I’m up early today .. so, let’s get caught up.  My younger brother, Jeff turned forty in May.  We decided to have a surprise party a month early .. you guessed it, so he would be surprised.  Yes, we got him .. and family and friends gathered for food and fun.  Many of my good friends were in attendance and there was plenty of chaos .. a fun time was had by all.

Fast forward to May … and there was a lot of magic events going on in and around Chicago.  There was the annual Magic Flea Market in Elmhurst,  David Copperfield was performing downtown and the Magic Collectors Association was the following week near Ohare.  Before you know it .. my birthday snuck up on me. I had already been waiting over a month to get my hands on an Apple iPad .. and finally the day arrived.  Yes, it is all that and more.  I took it to bed with me that night .. for real!

In the mean time I’ve been busy working some restaurant gigs and shows in the area.  It looks like things are picking up slowly but, it’s not like it use to be.  I’ve worked hard for many years so, I’ve done Ok .. but, I know many people are struggling these days.  My brother recently lost his job .. so, if you’re looking for some help .. drop me a note.

Let’s see … we’re almost caught up.  The gang went to see the Kane County Cougars, I taught a Magic Mini Course at Bee Be School in Naperville.  The iPhone 4 came out .. and I’ve got to wait for that too.  Mother had cataract surgery .. and yes, she’s doing fine.  My little buddy Rexx turned five, Carol turned 29 .. again,  KISS tickets went on sale and Michael Jackson is still dead.  I think we’re caught up now .. right?

Steve

It’s a good thing I wasn’t turning this stuff in for college credit … I’m late again!  I left off some time in February .. I think.  I’m going to turn back my calendar and see what we skipped over.  Ah, first bit of significant information I see is that I lost my gig at Max & Erma’s right after Valentines Day.  I had been performing Close-up Magic there for almost five years.  Times are tough .. and all entertainers were cut from the chains payroll.  I can’t tell you how I miss many of my little friends that would come and see me every week.  It’s sad but, business is business and I’m thankful for the many years of employment from the chain.  Who knows .. maybe I’ll be back one day.

Now that I’m nearly unemployed .. lets see whats next on my busy schedule.  Finally something fun, my good friends the Spencers were coming to town.  I’ve written about them before, they have the largest traveling illusion show in America .. second only to David Copperfield. I think that’s quite an accomplishment itself.  Their fun, family show was near by, so I spent the day with them.  My buddy, Greg Mulvey of Presto Productions was filming a few bits for future projects.  After the work was done I had a chance to sit and chat with Kevin .. one on one.  It was really nice just to relax for a few minutes and talk shop.  On a show day, we’re always rushed .. and there are a million things to attend to.  I also shared some time with Keith Barber and Kevin’s wife Cindy.  Their show is really special and if they are ever in your area .. get tickets fast, as they sell-out frequently.  I had a great time with the Spencers and the crew .. I can’t wait to see them again.

Now I’ve got you caught up with to the beginning of April .. lets see what else I can cover in a few paragraphs.  As you might have guessed, writing wasn’t one of my stronger subjects in school. It’s funny .. I’m writing more than I ever did before.  So, only a few weeks later there was a special show and tribute to my good friend Marshall Brodien.  He of course was one of the stars on the Bozo Show here in Chicago better known as Wizzo the Wacky Wizard.  The event was held at the beautiful Raue Center in Crystal Lake, IL.  It was a real fun time and Marshall asked me to assist on stage with his infamous Blade Box Illusion.  His lovely wife Mary was ready and willing to jump in the box.  I few years back, I recreated this very prop that Marshall used at Riverview Park.  After the show there was a reception for Marshall and his guests .. a fun time was had by all.  I’m going to pick up the very next day .. it’s been one thing after another over here.  I still have tons of photos to go through .. you would think I have plenty of time on my hands now .. right?

Steve

Today was a record high .. over 80 degrees in the Chicagoland area.  I’m still writing about my adventure a few months back in February.  Can you believe it … I’m so far behind.  Bare with me as I try to catch up on things … so, here goes.  We left off with a quick bite to eat at Skyline Chili before the big evening show in downtown Columbus, Ohio.  As you can see Carol enjoys the Coney Dog as much as I do.

The evening show was the highlight of the convention, a showcase of some of the best talent from across the country.  All but one act met the challenge .. and nearly brought the whole show down with him. I don’t need to name anyone but,  someone dropped the ball on this one.  Let’s just say this “act” had no business being on stage. I could go on .. but, I’ll save it for the MagicCafe.  I think we made our way back to the convention center and then maybe a late night stop at the Waffle House for breakfast.  The schedule was pretty simple .. Eat, Sleep … Magic!

Now we’re looking at Saturday morning .. well, eventually I woke up.  I believe I missed a lecture or two … once again, sleep was a priority.  Lunch as you may have guessed was another stop at Skyline Chili .. I think.  The snow had finally stopped and there was an accumulation of 14 inches over the past two days.  I was pretty confident that the roads would be clear on Sunday for the drive back home.  There was one full day left of the convention that included lectures, close-up magic and the evening show. Let’s not forget the dealers room, filled with all the cool props and gimmicks that we can’t live without. We’re really not much different than kids in a candy store.

After visiting with friends and the conclusion of the convention, it was getting late and our options for dinner were limited.  Then I remember spotting a Steak n’ Shake not far away. It was a nice way to end the night and get some rest for a long day of driving tomorrow.  First stop .. well, milk and donuts at Tim Horton’s .. then up north to Bowling Green, Ohio to visit with my friend Owen Redwine and his family.  It’s about two hours north and then another five hours back home from there.  We all had lunch at Penn Station and had a real nice visit.  My little buddy Connor is seen here devouring a cookie just about the size of his head.  I remember showing the boys a little magic and even performing the Pom Pom Stick out in the parking lot. Daylight was burning and I still had the majority of driving left to do.  Even for a few days .. it was nice to get away from the chaos back home.  The journey is long and cold but, the friends I’ve made over the years make it all worth while ..

Steve

It’s already been a month since I’ve been back from Ohio .. but, there is plenty to tell so here goes.  The journey began late Wednesday night with my first stop in Indianapolis, Indiana.  It was easier to break up the trip rather than drive all night.  After a good nights sleep it was off to Dayton to visit my dear friend Mrs. Sheppard.  Even at 83 she’s still very independent and full of energy.  Her late husband Walter was one of my magic mentors.  He shared his secrets of magic and woodworking .. I will always remember the many things he taught me.  After a few hours of fun and a quick trip to the grocery store to pick up some Esther Price candies, it was time to hit the road again.  The annual Magi-Fest convention begins tonight!

The weather was clear and we arrived just in time for the evening show.  Afterwards, the dealers room was open and I was like a kid in a candy store.  It’s always fun to see whats new in the world of magic.  I believe the close-up show was on the same night and I really looked forward to seeing some real sleight-of-hand. It was past midnight before it was time to grab a little something at the local Waffle House.  It was a long day .. and the adventure was just beginning.

The talent contest began at 8am but, you guessed it .. I opted for sleep.  Of course I do have my priorities .. and sleep comes first even though I really do enjoy the contests. I rolled out of bed around 10am only to discover it was snowing … and it was coming down heavy.  They were forecasting eight inches or so for the weekend.  I’m not sure what the final total was but, there was really no better place to be snowed in than with 600 fellow magicians!

The first stop of the day was to see my good friends at Cabbage Cases in Columbus, Ohio.  My buddy Mike Hannah took Carol and me to lunch at a fun place called Cap City Fine Diner .. everything was awesome! Afterward we headed back to the factory for my annual show.  I perform right there in the middle of the factory for the crew. It’s a fun break in the day for them and I really enjoy performing for some very hard working people.  They manufacture many of the ATA style cases used to transport my equipment from show to show.  They always treat me like royalty and I look forward to seeing them each year.

It was time to make our way through some of the snow covered highways back to the convention at the north end of town.  There were a few lectures in the afternoon that I wanted to catch along with meeting up with my good friend Tom Rozoff.  He was arriving later that day and we would grab some dinner before the evening show.  We met up at Bob Evan’s although I really had a taste for a couple of Skyline Coney Dogs. For some reason the waitress didn’t get around to our table fast enough .. and we were on a schedule that night.  We made a quick exit and headed across the street to .. you guessed it Skyline!

Stay tuned for the rest of the trip …

Yes, it’s been much too long since my last post.  If you’re reading this .. then you’ve survived the holidays and that’s a good thing.  January is a month to catch up on things for most of us … so let’s see what I can fill you in on.  My good friend Terry Evanswood and his crew came up to perform at the Arcada Theater in St. Charles, IL.  I’ve worked with Terry on and off stage many times over the years.  We basically grew up together and he’s one of my best friends.

The show was scheduled for the second weekend of January.  First show on Saturday evening and a matinee on Sunday.  For those who don’t know what all is involved .. let me try to explain.

After the truck is loaded with props and costumes, Terry and his cast made the twelve hour drive from Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.   They arrived late in the evening on Friday night.  After a few hours sleep, they arrive at the theater around 9am.  The load-in begins and I arrive soon afterwards with my equipment.  I’m there with additional illusions and special effects for the show.

It seems early enough in the day but, problems begin to arise.  The main curtain won’t open or close .. and the clock is ticking.  The theater is nearly 100 years old … and in many ways it shows it’s age.  We have to deal with it .. and fast.  A few hours later the curtain is repaired .. or so we think, and rehearsal begins.

My responsibilities include pulling the ropes, moving and setting the illusions, lighting .. and special effects.  Let’s just say .. I could have used an extra set of hands.   I had a long list of cues that were simply scribbled down on some scrap paper.   Yes, it’s a bit messy but,  it will have to do.

The props are  set and we’re ready to run through the show. With the first cue, we discover that the curtains are off track once again.  This time they’re stuck in the closed position.  Now were facing a real dilemma .. we may have to cancel the show tonight.

After a brief lunch break, I decide to take a closer look at the cause of the problem.  I soon discover the rope is off the pulleys on stage right.  Sounds like a simple fix but,  it’s up about 35 feet in the air.  I’m not much for climbing a ladder so, we manage to get the curtain open and come up with plan B.   This is an old movie house so the screen can be brought up and down.  Sounds simple enough .. but, it’s on ropes and it’s heavy.   This of course would become one of my tasks .. and not an easy one.

Now we’re only hours away from show time .. and no time for a full rehearsal.   This is often the case but, because we are all professionals .. we pull it all together.  This time around .. I even had my doubts but, once the show begins .. we made it look as smooth as could be.  Sure there were a few missed cues but, Terry is so comfortable on stage .. he makes it all work out.  He recently completed a run of 1500 show in Pigeon Forge in just three years.

The show runs a bit long and I think I made it home around midnight or so.  After a bit of sleep it was time to do it all again.  The matinee would be a lot easier on all of us as we’re already set up and we’ve got the bugs worked out from the night before.  The house is nearly full and the show goes like clockwork today.  Terry and the cast sign autographs afterwards while the crew begins to strike the show.

A few hours later we’re loading the truck in the bitter cold.  We all worked hard and worked together as a team.  The hours are long and we faced many challenges along the way .. but, it’s all part of the game.  I can’t think of anything more rewarding than working with friends like Terry and his team.

Steve

Another month has flown by and this should be my busy season.  Although things seem to be picking up  .. they are far from seasons past.  Back around 1994 we were running around sometimes doing up to five shows a day.

Of course not every one can pull that off .. but, we did. Sure, I did have some help and when we were rolling .. we were like a well-oiled machine.  Back then there were four of us that would travel together.  Most of the time it was my brother Jeff working sound and lights, my onstage sidekick “Flounder” and my girlfriend Tina as the box-jumper. For those not in the know, box-jumper is an old school term for the girl getting in and out of boxes. In my show they are better known as the Chezababes .. and yes, there have been many over the years.

Believe me this was no easy task .. especially out here when the winter weather can really wreak havoc on the driving conditions. As soon as we would arrive to a gig I would check things out. In a matter of minutes I would decide what equipment we would pull out of the van and the set-up would begin. Once the cases were in my brother and Flounder would set-up the sound, lighting and backdrops. Tina would set most of the show and the costumes. I was in charge of setting the illusions and solving any problems that arose. The show was always the easiest part of the day .. its the load-in and load-out that was the most work.

The show ran like clock work. Once and effect or illusion was done, it would go backstage and get packed. By the end of the show just about everything was ready to go. The sound and lights would come down as Tina and I were signing autographs.  We were back in my 1982 Chevy van and on our way to the next gig. This of course was long before Mapquest and any type of GPS.  We did this hundreds of times .. it was pretty crazy.  Above you’ll see us goofing around backstage .. we had a lot of fun times together.  Tina was amazing on and off stage.  Her smile lit up the room, her laugh was contagious ..  I’ll never forget her.

These days I’ve had to keep things much simpler. Most gigs are just one of the girls and myself.  They have to pull double duty and run the sound during the show.  This of course helps keep the cost down as most budgets have been slashed.  We’re still happy to work with a smaller show, it’s just a matter of adapting to our market.

Let me just take a second and wish you and your family the best of times this holiday season.  Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa .. whatever you’re into.  As long as it’s peaceful, I’m cool with that …

Steve

Nothing is better than the smell of fall in the air and an extra hour of sleep.  If you haven’t done so already we turned back the clocks last night.  I can’t tell you how valuable an extra hour of time is for me.  It seems that I just keep getting pulled in so many different directions .. that there just isn’t time for myself.  Lets just say it’s no fun being a grown up.

Last month was pretty exciting .. had a lot going on.  Once again this year, I had a run of shows at the Naper Settlement.  Of course working outside proved to be challenging but, I came prepared this time.  The first night it was a constant drizzle and the second night was cold.  I still couldn’t believe the number of people that come out for their “All Hallows Eve” event.  The numbers were up despite the weather.

I did make some time for a bit of fun and we headed up to Milwaukee the other night to see my friend David Seebach’s show.   My brother Jeff, Valerie and Carol made the journey.  The Friday evening traffic threw my timing off a little bit but, we made it in just as the show started.  A quick stop at Steak ‘n Shake made the night complete.

Tonight we’re trying something new, a dinner and show package at the Lincoln Inn Batavia.  My good friend Ken Mate will be sharing the bill and hopefully I’ll see some of my friends there.  Details are on the home page of my site.

Next week .. I’ve got to bring Rex to the dentist.  I’m a little nervous about all that but, he’s got a chipped fang that needs to be looked at.  I’ll feel better once that is all taken care of.  I’ve got a couple of gigs and then .. we’re going to see KISS in Chicago on Friday.  We’ve got some decent seats so it should be very cool.  If you haven’t heard, their new album “Sonic Boom” came out last month.  I suggest you get your copy and turn it up!

I guess that’s about it for now,  time to run once again …

Steve

It’s always been a special time of year for me .. the fall is just beautiful in Chicago.  I can still remember my dad mowing the lawn with his shirt off.  My brother would be planted on the couch watching the football game.  Of course things were much simpler back then and time just keeps flying by.  If only I could turn back the clock .. now that would be magic.

As I write .. it is the last Sunday in September.  I have some stories to catch up on still .. and I will get to all the summer fun.  I’ve also got a lot of cool stuff coming up and I wanted to fill you in on some of that too.  First off .. I’ve been writing for an online magic publication called the New Tops.  If you wonder over to Abbott’s Magic online you’ll find some very cool stuff.   Not only is it a great source for information by some of the top professionals across the country ..  you’ll find the best, hand-crafted magic props made right here in the USA.  Check then out .. I can’t say enough good things about them.

For all my friends that have an iPod at their side .. I taped my very first Podcast interview.  It will be online this Monday 09/28 and you can find it on iTunes in the Podcast section.  Simply look up iTricks and you’ll you’ll here the latest news in the magic world.  I’ve never done an interview on the computer .. it was interesting and I think you’ll enjoy it.

Rocktober is upon us and my calendar is filling up.  Speaking of calendars .. I picked up a new desk calendar for next year.  I still like writing my schedule down … so I can see it, on paper.  I can’t tell you how many of my friends have been hounding me to get an iPhone so I’ll have it all at my fingertips.  It is an amazing gadget .. and I just love Apple stuff but,  do I really need it?  To tell you the truth .. I don’t talk much on the phone anymore, and I don’t want to be bothered 24/7.  I know it’s invaluable for travel .. but, I’m pretty much done for the year now.  If you have any words of wisdom .. drop me a note,  I’d love to hear from you.

Until next time ..

Steve

Yes, I’ve got plenty of explaining to do .. it’s been well over a month or two and I haven’t had time to update things.  Right now I’m suppose to be up at the Wisconsin Dells .. but, things got messed up.  I’ll eventually get up there … maybe.  I’ve been going non stop since July .. we performed at the 72nd Annual Abbott’s Magic Get-Together and I just returned a few days ago from Magic Live in Las Vegas.  I’ve got tons of stories and pics to share .. all in due time,  I will get to it eventually.

Tonight I’m going to catch up on some sleep .. it’s just perfect sleeping weather tonight.  I’ve got the windows open and fall is in the air.  I can’t wait to see the leaves change color .. it’s my favorite time of year.

Steve

Again .. lets give this a shot.  It’s almost 2am and I’m just sitting down to type this out.  In real time it will be August tomorrow .. and I’m still writing about my adventures in June.  I’ve been busy getting things ready for our show at Abbott’s next week .. and if I keep this schedule up, I’ll be writing about all that in October.  I can’t even imagine it will be fall before you know it.

I’m flipping my calendar back to the end of June .. I made a field trip with my brother to the Brookfield Zoo.  We met up with my friend Carol and her mother on a very warm day in the Chicago area.  To make things more complicated .. you guessed it, my brother was still in a wheelchair.  The zoo was .. alright, half the exhibits were closed .. yet, they still charged full price at the gate.  I was really looking forward to the Reptile House .. and sure enough, it was closed for remodeling.  I can still remember what a thrill it was to see all the giant snakes when I was a child.  Who knew I would “talk” with snakes when I grew up.  We survived our adventure .. I was pretty beat afterward,  my brother just sat back and enjoyed the ride.

The following day was one we were both looking forward to.  I think it had been five years since we saw KISS play live.  We made the drive up to Milwaukee’s Summerfest to see our favorite band once again. The fest is a pretty big deal and there were over 18,000 other KISS fans there to join in the fun.  This time around would be a little different .. seating in the handicap section.  It was the only way my brother would be able to see the show, and it worked out just fine.  I was happy to be there .. anywhere.  KISS never disappoints and the show was simply awesome!  The band is celebrating 35 years and played many of their classic tunes.  We slowly made our way back to the car .. and grabbed  some Burger King for the ride home.  I’ve been a KISS fan since I was just a kid .. I still get excited when the curtain drops, and the band comes down from the rafters.  There is nothing better than a KISS concert .. nothing!

The following week was the Forth of July and Naperville hosts and event called Ribfest.  Food, fun and fireworks .. sounds good to me.  This time around my brother stayed home as the event is in a grass field.  Getting around would have been a bit of a challenge .. actually, near impossible.  The event has grown in size over the years and some big name acts have played right here in town.  I went with my buddy Paul to see Heart on Thursday and Huey Lewis & the News on Sunday.  We made our way near the front of the stage for both bands .. and they sounded great.  I was really surprised at how many hits Huey had back in the 80’s.  They played him so  much on MTV that I was sick of them back then.  Now, it’s fun to hear the old tunes and remember what was going on back then.  I ordered their Greatest Hits CD from Amazon a few days later.

We are well into July now .. and my cousins are coming over for a visit.  My little buddy Rex made a new friend .. as you can see they both had fun playing in the backyard and getting some fresh air.  Rex is always very gentle and patient with little ones .. even at his size. We relaxed and had some dinner with family .. after all, isn’t that what summer is all about??

Steve